Compound Monograph
Salvinorin A
Salvinorin A is the potent psychoactive diterpene of Salvia divinorum and a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist.
Sources · 2
Where Does It Come From?
Salvinorin A is a naturally occurring neoclerodane diterpene, found in Diviner's sage and 1 other source. It is flagged as moderately toxic and psychedelic.
Concentration
Content by Source
Concentrations not reported. No percent-dry-weight or mg/g figures have been published for this compound in its source plants.
Research & Evidence
Salvinorin A is the main psychoactive compound of Salvia divinorum, a sage traditionally used by the Mazatec of Oaxaca, Mexico. It is notable as one of the most potent naturally occurring psychoactive substances known and is unusual among psychedelics in that it is not an alkaloid and does not act on serotonin receptors. Instead it is a highly selective agonist at the kappa-opioid receptor, and it produces an intense, short-lived and often disorienting altered state. Its receptor selectivity has made it a subject of pharmacological research.
Toxicity & Safety
Acute physiological toxicity appears low, but the experience can be intense, dissociative and disorienting, with a real risk of injury during use because of loss of bodily awareness and contact with surroundings. Effects are short but can be overwhelming. Legal status varies widely by jurisdiction.
Dosage
Because of its extreme potency, salvinorin A is active in research at sub-milligram amounts. These figures describe doses studied in research and are not a recommendation.
